Paper hanger&#39;s straight edge gauge



Jan. 24, 1950 J. J. MILLER PAPER HANGERS STRAIGHT EDGE GAUGE Filed March 9, 1948 a} l A $0 /5 R. My WM E N ,U. R m T W A Patented Jan. 24, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE Claims.

This invention relates to a paperhangers straight edge gauge with particular reference to such a straight edge which cooperates with adjustable gauges or stops for determining the width of a sheet of paper to be out along the straight edge.

The main object of the invention is to provide a straight edge as indicated in combination with two forms of gauges or stops, one form for the edge of the paper to be trimmed, and the other form for the straight edge to determine the position thereof on the cutting table with respect to the paper.

Another object is to have such a straight edge in combination with one form of gauge which serves as paper stops and another form which constitutes adjustable stops for the straight edge capable of adjustment according to the width of scraps to be trimmed off the paper along said straight edge.

It is also an object to have a straight edge of the indicated type combined with a cutting board or table, which is equipped with the gauges forming the straight edge paper and gauge stops.

It is likewise an object to have the paper stops capable of being shifted from operative position to idle position, upon occasion, and to have the gauges capable of adjustment within reasonable limits for altering the positions of the straight edge on the cutting table.

It is even an object to equip a cutting table with gauges and stops of simple construction which are easily applied, but eifective to cooperate with the straight edge.

Other objects and advantages will appear in greater detail as the specification proceeds.

In order to bring out the features of the invention comprehensively, the latter is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming part hereof and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a cutting board or table equipped with the various gauges and stops for the straight edge;

Figure 2 is an elevation of the same as seen from the front edge thereof in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the drawing table showing a straight edge gauge and a paper stop in contact with the straight edge;

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the same parts as seen from the front edge thereof in Figure 3.

In the four views, the same reference numerals indicate the same or like parts.

Paper hangers and those having to do with applying wallpaper and the like to walls and panels in buildings are of necessity forced to do a great deal of trimming to usually one, or sometimes both, edges of the paper to be hung. The edge trimmed is, of course, waste, being frequently referred to as selvage, and varies somewhat in width, although this never amounts to a great deal. The paper hanger ordinarily must lay the straight edge on the paper and either measure each piece to be trimmed by means of a scale, or by eye, and then cut off the selvage along the straight edge. In so doing, time is lost, and sometimes the paper is inaccurately cut, and in any event considerable practice is necessary to make progress in such work.

I have found it quite practical to provide special means in connection with the cutting table and the straight edge capable of being definitely set in order to insure uniform trimming of the wallpaper with a minimum loss of time and without further thought or care, and shall, therefore, proceed to describe said special means.

In the practice of the invention, and referring now again to the accompanying drawing, a pasting and cutting board or table, indicated at 5, has a work surface 6 and a front edge I, while a sheet of zinc 8, or the like, may optionally be embedded in the table to avoid cutting the table itself when trimming the paper with a cutter or knife. Upon the mentioned front edge I of this table are attached a series of paper stops 9, 9, by means of screws H], II] provided with washers H, H, these stops being shown pendently suspended in idle positions in Figures 1 and 2. When these stops are to be used for gauging the paper l2, the screws Hi through washers H exert sufiicient friction against the stops to allow them to be swung up into raised active position, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, for example, the mentioned friction holding the stops in attained positions wherein at least a portion of each extends above the surface 6 of the table.

While the stops just described act directly upon the edge of the paper I2, the straight edge I3 cooperates with a pair of adjustable stops or gauges M, M also secured to the edge 1 by screws It) with washers H, as in the case of stops 9.

. These gauges are shiftable also about the screws to occupy several positions, the friction with the washers and the gauges against edge I being sufficient to hold said gauges in any attained position. Upon each gauge is mounted a pair of gauge bolts [5, i5, extending through the gauge involved and locked in position by lock nuts ii, iii. In order to accommodate the inner ends l9, 2!] of these bolts, the pasting and 3 cutting table 5 has a pair of undercut slots 2|, 2| in front edge 1 thereof forming clearance spaces to allow free swinging of the gauges to any extent necessary for use.

Due to the fact that the selvage or waste edge portions of any given roll of wallpaper may differ in width from that of another roll, the two gauge bolts may be set accordingly, the one with a greater projection than the other, as indicated at l9 and 26. When the waste edge is wide, the straight edge i3 is, of course, to be spaced a greater distance from the table edge I than if the waste is narrow. Thus, the two gauges 14 may be swung up into approximately the position indicated in broken lines in Figure 4 when the inner end 26 of bolt I6 is at-pro'per-level in each case to abut the straightedge l3 for cutting off a wide selvage. When the latter is narrow, the gauges are swung up higher, as shown in Figure 2, with the two bolts l5 and their shorter rlnnerfe'n'ds' l'9 in::-position for abutting the edge of the *straight edge, with the result that the latter is spaced closer to the front edge 7. Of course, theinward projection of the gaugebolts 15; Wet l9 and2ll over the table can be reversed, -with the inner ends l9 projecting a greater distance inward than ends so that when the shorter ends are to be used, the gauges are merely swung up to expose said shorter ends, while the longer ends remain concealed in slots -Zi on the table edge.

The stops and gauges may be made of metal, --wood' or plastic, or of any suitable material, but as the device is intended to last a paperhangera Ii'fetimastainless steelis preferred for'these parts, l

and their-forms and sizes may be altered tosuit conditions, as desired. Upon inspecting the figures -of the drawing, it is obvious that the paper "stops-"may either be swung down into idle'posi- *t'ion, or swung up into active position where they may abut the edges of the paper in order to -place it properly upon the table.

Manifestly, variations may be resorted to and parts and features may be modified or used without others within the scope of the appended claims.

Having now fully described my invention, I claim:

1. A straight edge gauge including the combination with a cutting-table having a substan- "tially' straight front edge, of at least one gauge "member pivotally mounted at one end thereof tothe front edge of the table, a stop fixed upon *the gauge member upon another portion thereof projecting inwardly upon said table from the front'edge thereof in a position to abut the edge of a straight edge resting on said table when the gauge member is swung up into operative "position, and a slot portion in said front edge of the table disposed in effective position to receive said stop when the gauge member is swung -''downward into inoperative idle position, there being also another member at the front edge of "said table for abutting the edge of said *straight edge.

25 A straight edge gauge including the combin'ation with a cutting table having a substanfti'ally straight'front edge, of at least one gauge member pivotally mounted at one end thereof ito'th'e' front edge of the table, two stops fixed upon tithe gauge member upon another portion thereof and'projecting difierent distances inwardly iupon said table from the front edge thereof,

-said stops being individually adapted to abut ithe edge 'of a-Jstraight edge resting on said table when the gauge member is swung up into selected o erative positions, and a slot portion in said front edge of the table disposed in effective position to receive said stops when the gauge member is swung down into inoperative idle position, there being also another member at the front edge of said table for abutting the edge of said straight edge.

3. A straight edge gauge including the combination with a cutting table having a substantially straight front edge, of a pair of gauge members pivoted at one end of each to the front edge of the table and spaced a predetermined distance apart, a plurality of stops upon another portion of each gauge member and projecting different distances inwardly upon said table from the front edge thereof, said stops being individually adapted to abut the edge of a straight edge resting upon said table when:

the gauge members are swung up into selected operative positions, and a pair of slot portions in the front edge of said table disposed individually adjacent to the gauge members in effective positions to receive one or more stops on said gaugemembers when the latter are swung down into inoperative idle position.

4.- A straight edge gauge including the combination with a cutting table having a substantially straight front edge, of a pair of gauge members pivoted at one end of each to the front edge .of the table and spaced a predetermined distance apart, a pair of gauge bolts forming adjustable stops mounted upon another portion of each gauge member and projecting different distances inwardly upon said table from the front edge thereof,'said stops being individually adapted to abut the edges'of the straight edge resting on saiditable Whenthe gauge members "are swung 'up'into selected operative positions,

and a pair of undercut slot portions in the front edge of said table disposed individually adjacent to the gauge members in effective'positions to receive "one or both stops on said gauge members when the latter are swung down into inoperative idle position.

'5. 'A straight edge gauge including the combination with 'a cutting table having a substantially'straight front edge, of -a pair of 'gauge members pivoted-at one end of each to'the front edge of the table and spaced a predetermined distance apart,-a pair of gauge bolts forming adjustable stops mounted upon another portion of each gauge member and projecting different distances inwardly upon said table from the front edge thereof, said stops being individually adapted to abut the edge of the straight edge resting onsaid'table when the gauge members are swung up into selected operative positions, a pair of undercut slot portions in the front edge ofsaid table disposed individually adjacent to the gauge members in effective positions to receive one or both stops on said gauge members when the latter are swung downinto inoperative idle position, anda plurality of pendently swingable, paper stops pivotally mounted at one end of each to said front edge of the table intermediate the gauge members and capableof being swung up into effective positions for engaging the edge of a length of paper lying on said table and being swung down into idle position below the level of the working surface of said table.

JOHN J. MILLER.

'No references cited. 

